Locum Consultant General Adult and/or Forensic Psychiatrist Healthcare in Prison

Job details

• Branch: Coleraine Area (SEHSCT)
• Location: HMP Magilligan
• Directorate: Adult Services & Prison Healthcare
• Functional Area: Prison Healthcare
• Salary: (See job details)
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Opening Date: 24/09/26
• Closes: Thu, 08 October 2026 @ 12:00 PM

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Consultant General Adult/Forensic Psychiatrist

DIRECTORATE: Adult Services and Healthcare in Prison

LOCATION: Healthcare in Prison

REPORTS TO:. Clinical Director Healthcare in Prison

RESPONSIBLE TO: Medical Director

JOB SUMMARY

The Post holder will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team known as the Mental Health Team in Healthcare in Prison. This team provides mental health services to the people in our care. The role involves assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness when required as well as providing medical support and advice to the team.

This is a part time post for 2 PAs, based in HMP Magilligan.

Profile of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) was established on 1st April 2007 as a result of the Review of Public Administration. The restructure saw the merger of the former Down Lisburn Trust with Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust to create the SEHSCT. The new Trust serves a population of approximately 350,000 and has a staff of around 12,000.

In May 2005, it was agreed that lead responsibility for prison health would transfer from the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) to the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). The transfer took place on 1st April 2008 and the DHSSPS delegates responsibility for commissioning to Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) .On the 1st April 2008, the Trust accepted responsibility for the provision of healthcare to people in prison in Northern Ireland.

Mental Health services in prisons are provided in a complex organisational environment. Services are delivered across 3 establishments to a population aged 18 years and older. The prison population varies from remand prisoners to short, long and life sentence prisoners.

The very fact of imprisonment or deprivation of liberty will lead to deterioration in many prisoners’ mental health with co morbid substance misuse. A significant proportion of prisoners will have some level of mental ill health on arrival. For most, what will be required is the provision of appropriate support through a period of adjustment, supplemented by primary care services. Some will have been admitted to prison with pre-existing moderate or severe mental ill health and/or substance dependency. Others will develop a moderate or severe illness in the course of their prison sentence.

Women offenders, life sentence prisoners and young offenders have specific needs that must be addressed.

The Trust delivers mental health services across the 3 prison establishments.

The NI Prison population is approximately 2200. This is prone to variation.

- There is a substantial body of evidence to demonstrate that the prevalence of mental health problems for individuals in prison is significantly higher than the general population. The most widely cited study on the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in prisoners is the Psychiatric Morbidity among Prisoners Study (Singleton, 1997) which was completed by the Office of National Statistics, Department of Health. The Department of Health also completed a survey using similar methodology, of Psychiatric Morbidity in the General Population in 2000.The reported prevalence rates for mental health conditions are outlined in the completed Health Needs Assessment completed in May 2016.

HMP Maghaberry

HMP Maghaberry is a high-security prison for adult males, both remand and sentenced. It accommodates Category A, B and C prisoners.

HMP Magilligan

HMP Magilligan is a medium to low security prison for sentenced adult males with 6 years of their sentence or less to serve. It accommodates Category B and C prisoners.

HMP Hydebank Wood College

Hydebank Wood - accommodates all young male offenders aged between 17 and 21 on conviction, who are serving a period of 4 years or less in custody. It also houses all young male remand prisoners (NB – Legislation also permits offenders of 15-17 years to be held in the Centre if their crime is deemed to be of a very serious nature).

Ash House - accommodates all female remand and sentenced prisoners. Ash House also has a Mother and Baby Unit which enables infants under the age of 9 months to remain with their mothers.

Substance Misuse

Drugs misuse amongst offenders being received into prison is on the increase, mirroring the rising levels of drugs misuse generally in the community. Many problematic drug users have spent many years in their addiction phase, and have developed a variety of associated problems that include health, social and offending aspects. Those in prison have arguably the most severe problems, which will be multi-faceted in nature. Therefore the responses need to be equally complex and able to address individual situations.

NICE Guidance notes that for people who have drug misuse problems, treatment options in prison settings should be comparable to those available in the community, taking into account additional considerations specific to the prison setting.

Healthcare in Prison services currently provide support and treatment to problematic drug misusers through:

Specialist Practitioners, 3 Addictions Nurse Specialists;

Psychosocial Support – delivered as the AD:EPT program via Start 360 and contracted by SEHSCT.

Core primary care and mental health provision.

Directorate

Adult Services and Healthcare in Prison.

SUMMARY OF ROLE

He/she will work in partnership with clinical colleagues, the Healthcare Managers and will be required to work within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment across the three prison establishments. The main site for this role will be HMP Magilligan however frequent cross site discussions will form part of the role as patients often move between sites.

The services within Healthcare in Prison service are continually evolving and developing to meet service needs and improve our quality of care. There is a desire to develop the Recovery ethos in the service. This post is within the Mental Health Service who have well-developed multi-disciplinary and multi-agency methods of working. The post holder will offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness when required as well as providing medical support and advice to the team.

Details of the Post

This is a part time post - 2 PAs per week, based in HMP Magilligan.

The post holder will take over responsibility for a caseload and will have clinical responsibility for patients under their care, and undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of their patients.

The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a high quality, cost effective service to his/her patients in line with the Trust’s key strategic objectives. This will involve a close working relationship with Consultant colleagues, the Mental Health Service Lead, the Multi-disciplinary team, other community staff and General Practitioners.

The Consultant will be expected to participate actively and positively in the development of the Trust’s Healthcare in Prison mental health services and should expect their pattern of work to change during the course of their employment within the Trust.

The post holder will work as a member of a small team of highly motivated and dedicated psychiatrists and will be expected, in cooperation with other colleagues, to provide advice on planning, monitoring, resource allocation and service delivery to the Chief Executive and other senior managers within the Trust.

The post holder will arrange mutual cover with his/her consultant colleagues working in the Healthcare in Prison service.

The post holder will be expected to engage in medical and clinical audit, resource management, and will collect and maintain adequate service statistics in order to develop and further the evolution of his/her services.

The post holder will ensure his/her own continuing professional development (CPD) and the SEHSCT will support this. The post holder will be required to undertake such continuing educational activities as are necessary to remain accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and in line with the Trust’s strategy on Clinical Governance.

The post holder will be supported in their role by appropriate clerical and administrative staff and with dedicated office space and adequate equipment including IT facilities.

The post holder is expected to perform duties as responsible Medical Officer pertaining to the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986, subject to Part II approval by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority or an equivalent body.

The Trust is committed to delivering a person-centred, recovery-based mental health service. The active participation of service users and other carers/advocates is fundamental to this objective. The Successful candidate will be expected to facilitate such participation in the planning, delivery and monitoring of the service

Job Plan template

Day

Time

Location

Work

Category

No of PAs

Monday

09.00-09.30

Admin, prescriptions, emails ,

C

0.125

09.30-12.00

New patient clinic Maghaberry

0.625

12 -14.00

Maghaberry

Admin, emails, phone calls, complaints, letters from patients, prescriptions, Kardexes

0.50

14-16.00

Review clinic Maghaberry

0.5

16- 17.00

Admin, emails

0.25

Tuesday

Admin, prescriptions, emails,

Hydebank wood

MDT Meeting - Donard

12 -13.00

Admin - telephone calls, mail, emails

13.00-17.00

Admin, Audit, CPD, medical education, local and regional meetings, Addictions peer group.

S

1.00

Wednesday

Admin, prescriptions, phone calls

12.00-14.00

Admin, emails, phone calls

14.00-17.00

Review clinic

0.75

Thursday

09.00-11.30

Admin, prescriptions, emails phone calls

11.30-15.00

Site variable

Extra clinic, site variable

0.875

15.00-17.00

Friday

New patient clinic

14.00-16.00

16.00-17.00

Clinical admin time

TOTAL PAs

10

The job plan above is indicative and subject to change depending on factors such as outpatient space and service requirements. Should a further ward round/ward liaison be required this will be discussed with successful applicant and any necessary changes will be made to the job plan. If required to work at a different site this will be factored into the PA allocation/ job plan of the successful applicant. It will also be subject to regular review (within 3 months in the first instance and no less than annually thereafter) to ensure that the allocation of PA’s, and in particular the split between DCC and SPA’s remains appropriate. Any changes will be made with agreement between the post holder and clinical management.

Patient Administration

This activity covers the management of individual patients including Out Patient administration, results reporting, letters / phone calls to patients, carers, GP’s and members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the patients care.

Teaching Research and Audit

The post holder may in time assist with the provision of teaching and clinical supervision for medical students, medical post-graduate students and others receiving training in mental health services, during their supporting programmed activities (SPA). He/she may be expected to provide supervision for one or more postgraduate trainees in addition to providing clinical supervision for members of the multi-disciplinary team. If a requirement this will be implemented by NIMDTA via the programme directors and college tutors. At which time the job plan will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

These posts are subject to the National Terms and Conditions of Service for Consultants (2004) and updated 2013.

Remuneration: As per the current salary scale under National Terms and Conditions of Service for Hospital staff as updated via DHSSPS circular on rates of pay, the most recent HSS (TC8) 2/2020 with effect from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 and all uplifts thereafter.

This part time appointment will be for 2 PAs per week.

The appointees will maintain registration through Revalidation with the General Medical Council (London) and hold a valid Licence to Practice.

Appointees are required to participate in Consultant Appraisal and Annual Job Planning processes in accordance with DHSS&PS requirements.

The Trust supports the requirements for CME/CPD as laid down by the GMC and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities.

In order to meet the on-call requirements of the post, the appointees are required to reside within a reasonable distance to their principal place of work, as per terms and conditions of service, and must be contactable by telephone.

Training for clinical appraisal is provided by the trust and the appointee will be encouraged to undertake such training. Annual appraisal is carried out by the Clinical Director for Mental Health Services Directorate. Issues arising from such an appraisal will be constructively discussed with the appraiser initially, and if necessary with the Medical Director.

A 3 month period of informal mentoring by the lead psychiatrist for Healthcare in Prison will be available to the successful candidates.

General Responsibilities

All employees are required to comply with the procedures, policies and codes of practice within the Trust.

Indemnity

Employees are normally covered by the HPSS and Community Health Service Indemnity against claims for medical negligence. However, certain circumstances may not be covered by the Indemnity, especially where a separate fee is received. The Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (DHSS&PS) therefore advises that membership of a medical defence organisation is maintained.

Equality

The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community irrespective of their religious belief, political opinion, race, gender, marital status, dependants, age, sexual orientation or disability.

All staff are required to comply with the Trusts policy on Equality of Opportunity and ensure it is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Superannuation

These posts will be superannuable unless the successful candidate decides to opt out of the scheme or is ineligible to join, and the remuneration will be subject to deduction of superannuation contributions in accordance with the Health Services Superannuation Scheme. There is reciprocity between the Northern Ireland Scheme and that in Great Britain.

Health & Safety

All employees must fully comply with the Trust’s various Health and Safety Policies and Procedures and Practices including relevant legislation and Codes of Practice.

Conduct

Staff must maintain high standards of personal accountability and abide by the Code of Business Conduct.

Members of staff are expected at all times to provide a caring service and to treat those whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.

Performance

Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and the efficient discharge of their duties.

Staff will participate in the Trust's Knowledge and Skills Performance Appraisal which is designed to ensure staff can contribute to organisational goals and ensure their skills are relevant to the tasks to be undertaken and that patient and client care is of a high quality.

Raising Concerns

All employees will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.

All employees will ensure that they take any concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

Records Management

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust’s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trust’s Environmental Cleaning Strategy, recognises the key principle that “Cleanliness Matters. It is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners”. Whilst there are staff employed by the Trust who are responsible for cleaning services, all staff employed by the Trust have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable and safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention & Control

All Staff should co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control. All staff should be aware of the Trust’s Infection Prevention & Control strategy and their local reduction of infection plan and know their role, in keeping with key principle Infection Prevention and Control is everyone’s business.

Staff, in delivery of all care must:-

Wash their hands thoroughly between each patient contact.

Be compliant with Standard Infection Control Precautions, Hand Hygiene and decontamination and other relevant infection prevention and control measures.

Be aware of the Infection Control guidance within the Trust’s Infection Control

Manual and ensure they obtain mandatory Infection prevention control training or other specific infection control related training as required.

Hygiene & Prevention of Infection

You will at all times be required to observe hygiene/infection prevention & control standards and notices in operation throughout the Trust. Hygiene and control of -infection are key elements in delivery of safe, quality services and you will, in certain jobs, be required to undertake an appropriate training course at the expense of the Trust.

Personal Public involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients and their families in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s Personal Public Involvement (PPI) Strategy.

Trust Policies/Codes of Conduct

Staff must adhere at all times to all Trust policies/Codes of Conduct, including for example:

Smoke Free Policy

IT security Policy and Code of Conduct

Standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Please note that it is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to

work at any location within the Trust’s area, as needs of the service demand.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all the duties involved in the post and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; consequently an employee may be required to perform other duties appropriate to the post as assigned to them.

eHealth

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE: Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist

Ref No: <to be inserted by HR> DATE

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/

Experience

Eligible for Full GMC Registration plus a License to Practice

Candidates must be Fellows or Members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent

Entry on the GMC Specialist Register for General Adult Psychiatry or Forensic via

CCT (proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of date of interview) OR

Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR)

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge and

Interests

(Knowledge of job,

HPSS, current trends, interests

related to the job)

Knowledge of and skills relevant to the management of patients with a wide range of psychiatric conditions

Knowledge of developments in the Health and Social Care Services

Knowledge of how the Criminal Justice System works and how the health service interfaces with it

Knowledge of dual diagnosis and/or substance misuse and in managing these conditions

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Personal Skills & Attributes

Good interpersonal and communication skills

A willingness to work flexibly and accept the changing needs of the South Eastern H&SC Trust

Computer Skills

Interview

Teaching

Ability to deliver high quality teaching

Research/ CPD/Audit

Evidence of continuing professional development.

Evidence of interest and experience in medical audit.

Management & Team working